Families push for change of home

Fay Gillman with her adult daughter Leanne who has an intellectually disability and was living at the Mary Moodie trust house in Woolston.

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Intellectually disabled people at a Christchurch care facility are likely to be moved to new homes, the Health Ministry says.

The ministry has put two temporary managers in charge of the Mary Moodie Family Trust home in Ferry Rd after at least 16 complaints from family members within six months.

A group of parents and welfare guardians, representing 10 residents, told The Press two homes had been lined up for the residents to move into last Friday before the families were told the trust's board had asked for more time to work with the ministry.

The families then sent a letter to the ministry on Sunday, requesting their children be "immediately relocated" until the trust's board and management were replaced.

Health Ministry disability support services group manager Toni Atkinson confirmed the ministry was considering moving the residents to alternative accommodation and would support families who wanted to relocate their family member.

"While we remain open to continued discussions with the trust board and management, we are not confident a resolution can be found in the short term.

"Should a resolution not be found and the ministry decides to terminate the contract with the trust, all the remaining residents will need to be relocated."

Owen Pimm, whose daughter had lived at the trust home since it opened, said he no longer had any confidence in the board.

"We've never had a problem up until two years ago. We built the homes, we fundraised for them. In two years, the whole thing's been destroyed by personalities."

A court-appointed guardian said the families had "absolutely no confidence" in the board.

"Even though the temporary managers are involved . . . [the board] are still denying even to the Ministry of Health that there are any problems."

Fay Gillman, whose daughter Leanne had lived at the home for about 18 years, said she wanted the residents moved until the board and management were replaced.

The Health and Disability Commissioner also confirmed yesterday it was investigating two complaints against the trust's board.

Trust chairwoman Rosemary Sladen declined to comment on the situation yesterday but said the board would issue a statement this week.